Short Summary

ENTHUSIASTIC PERUVIANS GAVE THEIR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM A HUGE WELCOME HOME ON SEPTEMBER 2ND, WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM BUENOS AIRES, HAVING WON ENOUGH POINTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE 1970 WORLD CUP.

Description

ENTHUSIASTIC PERUVIANS GAVE THEIR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM A HUGE WELCOME HOME ON SEPTEMBER 2ND, WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM BUENOS AIRES, HAVING WON ENOUGH POINTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE 1970 WORLD CUP.

THOUSANDS OF FANS GREETED THE TEAM WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT CALLAO AIRPORT. MORE THOUSANDS LINED THE ROUTE INTO THE CITY AS THE PLAYER'S MOTORCADE DROVE TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PLACE. IT TOOK MORE THAN TWO HOURS FOR THEM TO REACH THE PLAZA DE ARMAS, IN FRONT OF THE PLACE.

ONCE THERE, THE TEAM WAS RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT JUAN VELAZCO AND MEMBERS OF THE CABINET. THEN, EACH OF THE PLAYERS AND THEIR TRAINER, ACE DIDI, WERE PRESENTED WITH THE LAURELES DEPORTIVOS DEL PERU (A TOP SPORTING MEDAL), AND WARMLY EMBRACED BY THE PRESIDENT.

PERU DREW 2-ALL IN THEIR LAST ELIMINATION MATCH AGAINST ARGENTINA ON AUGUST 31ST. THE DRAW PLACED THEM AT THE TOP OF WORLD CUP GROUP TEN, AND A POSITION IN THE WORLD CUP FINALS IN MEXICO IN 1970.

ARGENTINA WAS REGARDED AS THE FAVOURITE FOR THE THIRD LATIN AMERICAN TEAM POSITION AT THE FINALS. PERU'S SUCCESS AND THE DEFEAT OF THE ARGENTINE TEAM WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOCKS IN THE ELIMINATION ROUNDS. THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS WERE WON BY BRAZIL AND URUGUAY.